{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c005\">14. This being the state of the case, we have to sketch\r\nwhat seem to us to be the marks of the [true] understanding\r\nof Scriptures. And, in the first place, this must be pointed\r\nout, that the object of the Spirit, which by the providence of\r\nGod, through the Word who was in the beginning with\r\nGod, illuminated the ministers of truth, the prophets and\r\napostles, was especially [the communication] of ineffable\r\nmysteries regarding the affairs of men (now by men I mean\r\nthose souls that make use of bodies), in order that he who is\r\ncapable of instruction may by investigation, and by devoting\r\nhimself to the study of the profundities of meaning contained\r\nin the words, become a participator of all the doctrines of his\r\ncounsel. And among those matters which relate to souls\r\n(who cannot otherwise obtain perfection apart from the rich\r\nand wise truth of God), the [doctrines] belonging to God and\r\nHis only-begotten Son are necessarily laid down as primary,\r\nviz. of what nature He is, and in what manner He is the\r\nSon of God, and what are the causes of His descending\r\neven to [the assumption of] human flesh, and of complete\r\nhumanity; and what, also, is the operation of this [Son],\r\nand upon whom and when exercised. And it was necessary\r\nalso that the subject of kindred beings, and other rational\r\ncreatures, both those who are divine and those who have\r\nfallen from blessedness, together with the reasons of their\r\nfall, should be contained in the divine teaching; and also\r\nthat of the diversities of souls, and of the origin of these\r\ndiversities, and of the nature of the world, and the cause of\r\nits existence. We must learn also the origin of the great\r\nand terrible wickedness which overspreads the earth, and\r\nwhether it is confined to this earth only, or prevails elsewhere.\r\nNow, while these and similar objects were present\r\nto the Spirit, who enlightened the souls of the holy ministers\r\nof the truth, there was a second object, for the sake of those\r\nwho were unable to endure the fatigue of investigating\r\nmatters so important, viz. to conceal the doctrine relating to\r\nthe previously mentioned subjects, in expressions containing\r\na narrative which conveyed an announcement regarding the\r\nthings of the visible creation,<a id=\"r927\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f927\"><sup>[927]</sup></a> the creation of man, and the\r\nsuccessive descendants of the first men until they became\r\nnumerous; and other histories relating the acts of just men,\r\nand the sins occasionally committed by these same men as\r\nbeing human beings, and the wicked deeds, both of unchastity\r\nand vice, committed by sinful and ungodly men. And what\r\nis most remarkable, by the history of wars, and of the victors,\r\nand the vanquished, certain mysteries are indicated to those\r\nwho are able to test these statements. And more wonderful\r\nstill, the laws of truth are predicted by the written legislation;—all\r\nthese being described in a connected series, with\r\na power which is truly in keeping with the wisdom of God.\r\nFor it was intended that the covering also of the spiritual\r\ntruths—I mean the “bodily” part of Scripture—should not\r\nbe without profit in many cases, but should be capable of\r\nimproving the multitude, according to their capacity.</p>","headings":["The Writings of Origen, Vol. 1 of 2","ORIGEN DE PRINCIPIIS.","BOOK IV.","FROM THE GREEK."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg70561-paragraph-315"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"d8b2573d74afad8e001f723247a7d35b108ab8b4a293d118c5e71a42cc29252b","edition_title":"The writings of Origen, Vol. 1 (of 2)","edition_translators":["Frederick Crombie"],"edition_year":1869,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg70561-f927","license_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html","public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"original-editor-translator-note","review_required":["work and recension attribution","original-work chronology","Bible reference numbering and citation kind","English edition rights and attribution"],"review_status":"needs_review","rights_evidence":"Project Gutenberg metadata: Public domain in the USA. Existing 1869 English translation; translator died 1889. Electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"f927","source_ebook":70561,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f927\">\n<p class=\"c006\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r927\">927</a>. </span><span lang=\"grc\">περὶ τῶν αἰσθητῶν δημιουργημάτων.</span></p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"de125e213d16053354f22b34a1c8d477ac23f201e660e4f4841b2ed7e05bb367","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70561/pg70561-images.html#f927","text_sha256":"28eade69dcb9f8eb2cb3f56915e8a24ff05a370c4658a4be70cca6530648a074","verified":false,"work_id":null}